The Classical period of Ancient Greece produced some of the most exquisite sculptures the world has ever seen. The art of the Classical Greek style is characterized by a joyous freedom of movement, freedom of expression, and it celebrates mankind as an independent entity. Replacing the strict asymmetry of the figure with a free flowing form more true to life.

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1) Poseidon - 1705

Poseidon was seen as creating new islands and offering calm seas. When offended or ignored, he supposedly struck the ground with his trident and caused chaotic springs, earthquakes, drownings and shipwrecks. Sailors prayed to Poseidon for a safe voyage, sometimes drowning horses as a sacrifice.

2) The Three Graces - 1816

Canova's figures stand side by side, all facing each other. The three slender female figures become one in their embrace, united not simply by their joined hands, but also by the scarf which drops from the hand of one of them. Said to represent beauty, charm and joy the Graces presided over banquets and gatherings primarily to entertain and delight the guests of the Gods.

3) Andromeda - 17th C

Andromeda was a princess from Greek mythology who, as divine punishment for her mother's bragging, was chained to a rock as a sacrifice to a sea monster. She was saved from death by Perseus, her future husband. In the Christian period the subject was converted into the legend of St George and the Dragon

4) Michelangelos David - 1504

The Statue of David, completed in 1504, is one of the most renowned works of the Renaissance. This masterwork, created out of a marble block from the quarries at Carrara that had already been worked on by an earlier hand, definitively established his prominence as a sculptor of extraordinary technical skill and strength of symbolic imagination.

5) Zeus of Artemision - 460 BC

Bronze Sculpture, thought to be either Poseidon or Zeus, c. 460 B.C, National Archaeological Museum, Athens. This masterpiece of classical sculpture was found by fishermen in their nets off the coast of Cape Artemisium in 1928. The figure is more than 2m in height.

6) Helmeted Athena - 1st century AD

Though Athena was a goddess of war, she disliked fighting without a purpose and preferred using wisdom to settle predicaments. The goddess would only encourage fighting if it was for a reasonable cause. In her role as a protector of the city, many people throughout the Greek world worshipped Athena as Athena Polias ("Athena of the city"). Athens and Athena bear etymologically connected names.

8) Discobolus (discus thrower) - 2nd century AD

As always in Greek athletics, the Discobolus is completely nude. His pose is said to be unnatural to a human, and today considered a rather inefficient way to throw the discus. Also there is very little emotion shown in the discus thrower's face, and to a modern eye, it may seem that Myron's desire for perfection has made him suppress too rigorously the sense of strain in the individual muscles,

9) Aphrodite de Milos (Venus De Milo) - 100 BC

The statue of Aphrodite de Milos is regarded as the most beautiful model of a woman's body in the world. It is on display at the Louvre in Paris. Created between 130 and 100 BC, it is believed to depict Aphrodite (called Venus by the Romans), the Greek goddess of love and beauty.

10) Roman Statue of Apollo - mid-2nd century AD

Apollo has been variously recognized as a god of light and the sun; truth and prophecy; archery; medicine and healing; music, poetry, and the arts; and more. Apollo is the son of Zeus and Leto, and has a twin sister, the chaste huntress Artemis. Apollo was worshipped in both ancient Greek and Roman religion.